7 So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!
Ecc. 9:7
I just returned to Colorado to find a winter wonderland—the snow that has covered most of the US has covered our yard. But we are prepared for it in Colorado and I am so sorry for my friends in Texas and all over the States who have been in yet another crisis.
While I was in Oxford, Joel and Joy were stuck there with me. The lockdown rules that came the day after Christmas, meant that though they could join us for Christmas, (we were legally in each other’s support system), they could not go back home. There were days when they longed to go back to do regular work, be in their home with all their books needed for studies. Yet, as I reflect on our time, it was one more very special portion of time where I had the opportunity to speak into their lives.
The rhythms we have kept through all of our years no matter where we moved, what the place, became really fun for us. We at long meals by candlelight every night. We walked for miles together along the Oxford canals and sat on benches in the parks being friends. We watched several television series at night and a few comedies that delighted us together. But, even though we were locked down and couldn’t go anywhere, all of us delighted in our time together.
The dance of life goes on--one more generation anew will have their turn to make it beautiful and now my time to invest, to love and encourage is less than it used to be. Remember, my friends, today, you are living and writing the story of your life, crafting the legacy you will leave to generations to follow.
“Teach us to number our days that we might present to you a heart of wisdom.”Psalm 90:12
No longer the door slamming as a boy child runs into the house yelling, "Mama, you'll never guess what we did!" or "You'll never guess what I found! Mama, where are you?"
or a girl child,
"Mama, will you sit here with me just for a minute to talk before I go to sleep. I want to tell you what I was thinking today."
or
Dinner table filled with teenagers, awash with hormones and ideals, discussing loudly their opinions about life with a, "Mama, you are the best cook! Can I have some more?"
Through all seasons, we whisk here and there in a hurry to "get it all done." But, I am now in the position of being the one to say, "before you know it, the early years of motherhood come to an end, and you have no more days to enjoy your son or daughter as a child."
God speaks to us through nature and His own visual art. There is the promise of spring with flowers, blooms, that life is all aswirl with promise--a season of youthful idealism. The summer comes with the promise of fruit and the planting of seeds that will bring life--the planting of all that is good in the hearts, souls, and minds of our children quickly before the season changes again.
And so the seasons go with our children--baby, pre-school elementary, growing into young adult and then off to start his own life. I am so thankful I have so many, many great memories and times of friendship with Nathan--but I wish I had relaxed more and enjoyed looking into his little boy eyes and seeing the life that was sparkling there!
In splendid glory and bursting color, diversity in every form, autumn teaches us that life is always changing--and that, whether we want it to happen or not, life will be changing again soon. Spring that God is the one who renews. Summer and winter, their own expressions of God. Life and this season right now, is about to change. Life passes quickly and each season reminds us that one more year, journey, season is about to pass. Let us not waste the time in regret or in hurry.
This year, I intentionally made time, even when I did not feel like I had it, to make more memories--to live in the moments when I could share real life--look into their eyes, share in the deepest expression of their hearts because I know the season was about to pass.
Driving on Sunday summer evenings, every week, with the kids who were home, on our nearby country roads with music lists playing and shared creating toe-tapping hearts--became a favorite pastime--every week a rhythm to stop life for a few minutes to say, "You are important--let's take this time together, away from the bother where life steals our moments."
We sat in our white porch rockers and sipped tea every night and stayed until the sun set.
Morning breakfast on the back porch, where breakfast (cheesy eggs) and the caffeine of choice was offered the moment a pajama'd child emerged from their bedroom.
We will never have this year, this day, this moment in which to invest again—it will be fleeting and over, as one spring marks another, one autumn tells of us another season or winter a year soon to be past.
Today is the day in which I may pour out love, Inspiration, serving and touching hearts, pointing in this moment of glory, to the divine Creator. Teaching what is true and right and good. Modeling faith.
The ministry of motherhood must be personal—back rubs, giggles, eyes really seeing into the face and soul of the one being listened to…
Our own traditions celebrated again and again--at no cost!
Sleeping out under the stars on our deck in sleeping bags
Hikes and picnics in the national forest
Eating each evening on our front porch to watch the aspen trees dance in the wind
Evening walks each night and taking photographs of the sunset
Every day, candle and music to celebrate eating together.
I knew that these were the memories, the life-pictures that were in the heart and mind of my children, when they would go to their own lives, to begin the celebration of each season and carry on these traditions in their own homes.
I understood, from their first days, that
A real, little human being, requires personal attention as a flower needs real water.
We are those who are to water the garden of our children's souls that life may spring up every day anew and refreshed. We are the love that causes them to bloom.
When this day is past, I must hope that I have used it well and invested wisely because I will never have it to live over again, and soon, very soon, the autumn of motherhood will remind us, that this season is almost over.
Remember: Only the wise can dance to the rhythm of life!
May you listen to the music of each season, and dance elegantly the dance God has granted you within your home.
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I have written The Lifegiving Home and The Lifegiving Table, and the companion study guides, as a whole set of the Lifegiving Series, because I wanted to help women understand how to build the rhythms in their home as well as the conversations in their homes that would bring life to the faith and spirit of their children.
I have received so many wonderful emails, messages and comments from so many of you all over the world who have had your vision for your home reshaped and been encouraged to cultivate and practice ideals. So today, I want to offer a set of each book and the companion study guides to 2 of you--(that is 4 books for 2 people). If you already have the books, you can give them away as a set for Christmas to a friend or to your church. But my heart is to bless you because you have all blessed me. Thanks so much for your notes of encouragement.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THREE SPECIAL GIVEAWAYS FOR YOU, TODAY!
FIRST, WE HAVE TWO SETS OF LIFEGIVING TABLE and HOME BOOKS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE RADDISH COOKING KIT!
Here's how Raddish describes their product ...
Raddish brings families together in the kitchen and at the table.
Children who are empowered in the kitchen become adventurous eaters and confident achievers. Families who eat meals together raise healthier, safer, and more successful children. Raddish inspires parents to make kitchen memories with their children and discover a new appreciation and joy for cooking together.
Raddish is designed by teachers who believe the kitchen classroom is the tastiest place to learn. Each thematic kit incorporates math, science, nutrition, geography, culture and history. With Raddish, kids cultivate a diverse palate, experience culinary creativity, and build a foundation for a wholesome future and a lifelong love of cooking.
The Raddish kit includes a kitchen tool, a cooking skill tutorial card, table talk discussion starters, recipes and activities.
To enter, share, follow me on instagram, (https://www.instagram.com/sally.clarkson) and leave a comment below to tell us what you did!
Contest closes on Monday morning, October 30, at 10:00 a.m.